Numbed and Satiated: Brueggemann on Egypt and America (Audio)

In this second part of a discussion of Walter Brueggemann’s The Prophetic Imagination, I discuss how left and right-wing churches alike are likely to be sucked into “royal consciousness,” and that is equivalent to the sin of idolatry. Brueggemann’s alternative, inspired by the story of Moses and the escape from the Egyptians, is to claim a foothold in the freedom on God, literally an other-worldly vantage point from which to gain perspective on the world and strength to oppose the Pharoahs of the world. Brueggemann thus begins his provocative critique of the contemporary Christian church within the framework of a studied reading of Old Testament scripture. He argues that then, and now, the satiation and subsequent numbness of the haves in society makes way for treating the lower ranks as things to be used, bought and sold. Community is broken by this disregard for others within it Note: There’s a part that is cut out that transitions between the discussion of Solomon’s reign and again discussing the founding of Israel in Moses’ cooperation with God. Solomon comes well after Moses and represents the decay of the Mosaic vision. For more from me visit lauriemjohnson.com politicalphilosophy.video.blog